Top Garden Projects for February

Fertilizing, dormant spraying, pruning and starting
seeds head the list of February projects. Weather permitting, this can
be a great month to get your spring and summer gardening underway.

FERTILIZING - Mid to late February
is the time to fertilize trees, shrubs and evergreens. Use a
rhododendron type fertilizer to feed evergreens like junipers,
conifers, broadleaf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias.
Use a rose or all-purpose garden type fertilizer to feed roses, fruit
and flowering trees, plus other deciduous trees and shrubs. If you use
dry type fertilizers, be sure to water-in thoroughly after application.

PRUNING - This is one of the best
months of the entire year to prune fruit, flowering and shade trees.
Deciduous plants like forsythia, quince, spirea and other early spring
flowering shrubs should be pruned a little later, after they have
finished flowering. Or, you can cut a few branches early and force them
into early bloom in warm water. Basic pruning is done to improve the
shape of the plant, open it up for good air circulation and better sun
exposure. Always start your pruning by removing all dead, decayed or
broken branches. Water sprouts, suckers, and crossed branches can also
be removed to improve the appearance of the plant and encourage a
better shape. Roses can be pruned late this month or next. See
Also: PruningWinter Pruning

SPRAYING - February is the month to
make the last application of winter dormant spray. A combination of
lime- sulfur and oil is the mix generally used for dormant spraying. It
should only be used on deciduous trees and shrubs like fruit, flowering
and shade trees. Spray at a time when the wind is not blowing and when
temperatures are above freezing. Lime sulfur is apt to burn leaves and
needles, so keep the spray off the foliage of evergreens. See
Also: Sprayers

STARTING SEEDS - Late this month
and early next are good times to start seeds indoors of summer annuals,
perennials, herbs and vegetables. Use a good sterilized soil to start
the seeds. Choose a warm, bright spot in which to start them. See
Also: Starting Seeds Indoors

VEGETABLE SOIL PREPARATION -
Weather permitting February is the month to begin tilling or spading
the soil. Do not undertake this project until the soil is dry enough to
work. One of the best ways to test the soil, is simply take-up a
handful of earth, squeeze it in your hand, and if water oozes-out the
soil is still too wet to till. Compost, well rotted manure and any
other organic matter are excellent additives to mix into vegetable
garden soil as you prepare it for planting. This is also the time to
turn under your cover crops.
See Also: Organic
GardeningWide
Row Vegetable Gardening

PERENNIAL VEGETABLES - Rhubarb,
horseradish, asparagus and artichokes are among the perennial
vegetables that can be planted this month. Plant them along the
perimeters of the vegetable garden so they are not in the way as you
till or spade each season.

PLANTING AND TRANSPLANTING - Right
now is an excellent time to plant or transplant most any garden tree or
shrub. Fruit, flowering and shade trees are planted right now during
their winter dormant season. Likewise, the various types of berries can
be set out now. Both deciduous and evergreen shrubs, including roses
can be planted or transplanted this month. See also:
Transplanting

LAWNS - Late this month or early
next are good times to feed the lawn with a spring type lawn
fertilizer. If moss is problem, use a spring fertilizer that contains a
moss killer, so you can do both jobs in one easy application. A
follow-up application of dolomite lime will help sweeten the soil.
See Also: Lawn

COLD WEATHER - Remember, many years
the coldest weather of the entire year occurs between February 1st and
March 1st, so it is important to keep an eye on weather forecasts. If
exceptionally cold weather is forecast, you can provide some protection
to early flowering or tender plants by covering them with some type of
cloth material. Remove the covering as soon as the weather moderates
again. See Protecting
Plants During Cold Weather for more information.